Democrat bows from race for Millstone Township Committee.
By: Scott Morgan
MILLSTONE The lone Democratic candidate in this year’s Township Committee race has withdrawn.
Michael Scotto, one of three candidates seeking the committee seat left open by outgoing Committeeman Bill Kastning, recently revoked his candidacy, citing personal reasons.
In a letter, Mr. Scotto said time constraints and personal responsibilities led him to "re-evaluate" his candidacy.
The two remaining candidates are Republican Gregory Bellotti and Independent John Pfefferkorn. Mr. Scotto, who declined to comment further about his decision, said in his letter that he endorses Mr. Bellotti.
Mr. Bellotti said he is pleased to have Mr. Scotto’s support, and added he was glad to know Mr. Scotto withdrew from the race rather than try to serve a committee term that would ultimately be taxing on him.
"It’s tough to do that," Mr. Bellotti said. "But I’m glad his ego didn’t get the better of him."
Mr. Pfefferkorn said he believes Mr. Scotto’s withdrawal and his subsequent endorsement of Mr. Bellotti merely is a political stunt.
"This is another staged event in the history of Millstone politics," Mr. Pfefferkorn said. "It’s clearer than ever to me that there is an apparent connection between the developers, the Millstone Coalition, the Democratic leadership and the coalition’s candidate, Greg Bellotti."
In 1999, Democrat Jenny Esposito dropped out of the race because she said she didn’t want to draw votes from Evan Maltz, a Republican, and Bill Nurko, a Democrat. Both men won election, defeating Republican Steve Lambros in the race for two open seats.
The Millstone Coalition supported Mr. Maltz and Mr. Nurko.
Mr. Bellotti served as treasurer of the Millstone Coalition, a nonpartisan political organization, from 1999-2001, but said he resigned due to a potential conflict of interest when he ran for committee.
Mr. Bellotti said Mr. Scotto endorses his candidacy because the two share a similar platform. He said they both believe strongly in developing ratables to offset the costs of recreation, open space preservation, education and senior citizen programs that are expected to accompany the township’s growth.
Mr. Pfefferkorn said he believes developers are both running and ruining the township.
"The politicians are only a front for developers and the developers’ mission," which is to overdevelop lands for ratables, he said. He said he believes Mr. Bellotti’s plans to develop ratables fail to take into account environmental issues, particularly along the Route 537 and Route 33 corridors.
"Developers’ jobs are to develop," Mr. Bellotti said. "The present Township Committee has done more to control growth and manage it, but the realization is that you cannot stop it. There are lots on Route 537 and Route 33 that are not classified as environmentally sensitive or as wetlands that could serve as ratable income for the town."
Whereas Mr. Bellotti said he wants to develop smaller ratables, rather than "eyesores," Mr. Pfefferkorn said he fears overdevelopment threatens to collapse one of the state’s "last pristine areas."

